Cincinnati Christian Education Developments in the Years Since CCU’s Closure

By David Fincher 

The origin story of Cincinnati Bible Seminary in 1924 has been shared many times through the years, with Christian Standard describing those earliest events most recently in an online article from 2019, the year Cincinnati Christian University closed. 

And 2019 was also the year Central Christian College of the Bible, Moberly, Mo., entered the hundred-year history of ministry education in Cincinnati. Since that time, many have joined together to work, plan, and donate toward a new origin story that has helped continue that legacy of Christian education in the Queen City. 

On Nov. 9, 2019, I shared with CCU’s alumni homecoming audience the vision of ministry education that CCCB’s trustees had empowered me to pursue. It would continue three significant services of CCU. Elliott Library would honor the past efforts of those who researched Scripture, served the church, and taught generations of ministers. CCL (later renamed the Christian Church Leadership Network) would provide training and resources to support those presently in the ministry. And Russell School of Ministry would help recruit and train ministers for the future. These efforts would be funded by gifts through the CCL Foundation, a nonprofit LLC started by CCCB to provide legal separation from CCU and immediate legal operation in Ohio. 

Although many unexpected factors have arisen since then, the general direction as described that day remains true. In this article, I will update and address five strategic activities from the last four years and describe continuing plans for moving forward. 

RELOCATING THE CCL CENTER 

The most pressing decision made in early 2020 was to choose the next location for ministry education in the Cincinnati tristate area of Ohio, Kentucky, and Indiana. Because the bank was selling CCU’s campus (eventually purchased by IDEA Public Schools in April 2021), relocation was necessary. Many sites were evaluated before a location in Northern Kentucky was chosen that formerly had been an extension site of a for-profit university. 

The CCL Center is a 14,000-square-foot facility in Florence, Ky., leased at an affordable price in a convenient location. It now contains offices, classrooms, meeting space, and library resources, and has proven to be a site of much hospitality and activity. Everything that is described below occurs there in a safe and secure environment. Visitors enjoy the practical, attractive, and functional campus with visible reminders of CCU’s legacy. In fact, several events are being planned for the CCL Center this year to celebrate the 100th year of Cincinnati ministry education. 

REBRANDING RUSSELL SCHOOL OF MINISTRY 

Originally, Russell School of Ministry (RSM) was the name given to CCU’s undergraduate and graduate ministry department. After CCU’s closure was announced, John Russell and Bob Russell gave CCCB permission to use the family name to train more ministers through traditional and innovative approaches.  

RSM’s next phase under CCCB was an unaccredited training program for interns at churches in Cincinnati and beyond. After receiving Kentucky approval, RSM was developed into an accredited two-year undergraduate program, described as a “trade school for ministers.” After further review in late 2022, it was agreed that the best way to continue the legacy of Cincinnati Bible Seminary was to make RSM the official name of Central Christian College of the Bible’s two-year graduate program.   

Today, Russell School of Ministry enrolls students from various walks of life to begin or accelerate their ministry in an accredited Master of Arts in Ministry Leadership program. It includes Dean Dr. Doug Spears (a CCU graduate and former professor) and teachers who lead weeklong intensive courses in Cincinnati, St. Louis, and Moberly, as well as online courses and church-based field experiences. RSM students gain ministry wisdom from mature and successful ministry partners within the Christian church to increase their professional career options. 

REVISING THE ELLIOTT LIBRARY (& MUSEUM) 

In addition to containing almost 150,000 volumes, the George Mark Elliott Library at CCU contained historical, archaeological, and biblical artifacts that were rarely utilized or seen. Through the tireless efforts of Jim Lloyd (CCU graduate and former librarian), the collection was carefully curated. More than 50,000 volumes were moved to the new location and almost 100,000 were donated to a nonprofit organization to be scanned for future digital access. The current collection of books and artifacts has been skillfully organized and displayed at the CCL Center, where it is now known as the Elliott Library & Museum (ELM). 

In addition to providing opportunities for individuals to conduct research and discover information about the Bible and the church, ELM regularly hosts learning events for church groups. Whether comprised of senior adults, youth groups, or church leaders, these folks experience instruction on a particular topic, hands-on exposure to original and replica artifacts, and warm hospitality. This continues the rich legacy of CCU professors whose life work produced evidence for the authenticity and authority of the Bible, such as rubbings of original artifacts and pottery over 3,000 years old. 

RENEWING THE CCL NETWORK 

CCL was established to support Christian church leaders and was the recipient of three Lilly Grants between 2015 and 2019. Although its larger events were a casualty during COVID, the work continued through smaller gatherings, with personal and relational support provided to ministers who needed assistance. The revised strategy of coaching, cohorts, and courses helps meet the needs of paid and volunteer leaders so they can stay in the ministry.  

After the retirement of Dr. Tim Wallingford in 2023, Micah Odor (a fourth-generation CCU graduate) became Central’s vice president of church services and also executive director of the CCL Network. Multiple Lilly grant proposals were submitted to support CCL’s services to church leaders. Remarkably, Lilly Endowment awarded two separate grants of $1.2 million for usage in 2024–2028.  The “Level Up” preaching initiative helps current and future ministers improve their preaching by working through a year-long curriculum under the direction of Dr. Billy Strother (CCU graduate and former professor). The “Thriving Congregations” initiative will help churches address their mission and vision, evangelism, and discipleship through sponsored consultations with a specialized partner. These initiatives are in addition to MinistryCareers.org, Bridge Ministry Training, and personalized care for ministers who are struggling to thrive in their church. 

RESTORING CINCINNATI AND ST. LOUIS UNDERGRADUATE EDUCATION 

In 2022, CCCB officially merged with St. Louis Christian College, and after the sale of the traditional residential campus in Florissant, moved to create a similar metropolitan location as had been done in Greater Cincinnati. Both CCU and SLCC were places where young people could experience Christian higher education in the city while deciding what their future ministry plans might be. In addition, both schools had utilized an adult degree completion program to serve many nontraditional students since the 1990s. CCCB has been evaluating undergraduate education opportunities in these locations while stabilizing other operations. 

Although the size of the market for extension site undergraduate education is still being determined, CCCB is revising its curriculum to provide the right flexibility and opportunity to offer helpful programming.  

• Courses will begin in Fall 2024 with a yearlong sequence of Bible classes that allow Christians to seriously engage with God’s Word to grow their own faith, ministry, and teaching ability.  
• That will be followed in Fall 2025 with a program that provides young people with a transitional path from youth group to a college or university. 
• The next phase is planned for Fall 2026, with a degree completion approach designed for the 21st century, aimed at those who have delayed their college degree plans. 

Pending approvals from accreditors and the state, these programs will partner with local churches to create a new pipeline of Christian workers for the future. 

WHAT DOES THE FUTURE HOLD? 

Successful ministry education in Cincinnati and St. Louis during the 21st century will have many different components. As CCCB continues these efforts, it will create a sustainable model that can be replicated in other states and cities where ministry education is needed for the Christian church. The combination of residential education at Central’s home campus in Missouri, graduate education through RSM, extension education in Cincinnati and St. Louis, and continuing education through ELM and CCL is working. These represent a shared vision of innovative ministry education in multiple locations for the Christian church. 

Dr. David Fincher is president of Central Christian College of the Bible in Moberly, Mo., and the Christian Church Leadership Foundation in Cincinnati, Ohio.